Paul Arden | Tuesday, 18 February 2025
There was a good question recently about casting in windy conditions in saltwater. It’s a good question because it accounts for about 2/3rds of my casting students. It would be over 90% if it wasn’t for the competition casters and instructors that are also a large base for me. So it’s a really important student intake. And I don’t think that is surprising, because most people can get to around 70’ without coaching. They can learn to (sort of) double haul through videos. A serviceable/ish roll cast and a few presentation casts. But when it comes to taking a 70’ shot into a headwind that’s when they need coaching.
Something changes at around that level and it goes from learning loop control to learning body movement.
Wind should never be a problem. In fact your casting should never be a problem. This is the one thing that you can sort out. You can’t change the weather or make fish appear where they are not, but you can sort out your casting so that it’s never a problem.
I think for Saltwater there are some skills that you really need. You need to be able to take shots into all wind directions to around 70’. To take a 70’ strong headwind shot this the equivalent flycasting distance technique of 100-115’ class. Which is a very high level indeed.
I often hear “you don’t need distance, most fish are caught at 20’” And while I’m of the opinion that the single biggest fly fishing mistake, at all levels, including beginners with very limited casting skills, is casting too far, if you want to take shots into the wind then you have to learn distance casting. The techniques are the same: high line speed, straight fly leg, blistering hauling, trajectory adjustments, the ability to carry line.
For this sort of fishing challenge, you specifically need to learn stopless deliveries both back and forehand, trajectory and plane adjustments (many times you need to come through low and off the side, particularly when at close range), you need a very effective and well-timed double haul (not just being able to haul, but having a haul than completely dominates the stroke) and you need a backcast that positions the flyline and fly with purpose in the air.
You also need specific coaching on line management and shot taking.
In my experience of long term coaching, starting with a competent caster who can throw around 70’, which is where most people can eventually get to, it takes about 12 months, 10 one-hour coaching sessions and about 100-150 hrs of organised training time, to get to the level where you can be the sort of caster where the guide goes “wow, where did you learn to cast? Are you a coach? How did you do that?”
And you never lose it. You have to realise that it is a commitment. It won’t just happen if you get a few lessons. It’s a year of training commitment. But what a difference it makes. Then you are not at the mercy of the wind and can fish in all conditions.
Right it’s windy; I’m going fishing.
Cheers, Paul